Universal joint



March 15. 927 F. w. PE'rERs yUNIVERSAL. JOINT y Filed Sept. 16, 1925 Y 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Marclf 15,1927. 1,e2,22o

F. w. PETERS UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed sept. 16. 1925 2 sheds-sheet 2 [frye/Maf' juk-V r ZQT I Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

VRGINIA. Y

Application ined 'september 16, 1925. seriaiNo. 56.642.

This invention relates to universal joints, and more particularly to joints of the character wherein the trunnions on the end coupling-members are connected with an Aintermediate hollow lubricant-containing ring through bearing blocksl which are inserted insuch ring transversely of the latter-athat is to say, in a direction that is substantially parallel with Vthe axis otl rotation of such ring. t

A joint of this general character is shovvn, described, and claimed in my application 679,595, filed December' 10, 1923.

lt vis the general purpose and object of this invention to provide a joint of the general character referred to wherein the bearing vblocks may be mounted in the ring Without the necessity for providing openings in one of the sidewalls ot the latter, this manner ot mounting the blockseftecting a corresponding reduction in the liability Vot the lubricant jto leak from the ring.

VAA further object of the invention is toV mount the bearing blocks in such manner thatlthe liability to leakage through. the openings by means of which the blocks are inserted into the ring and through the bores of such blocks is reduced to aminimum.

A further object of the invention is to mount the bearing blocks Within the ring in such manner-as to enable the packing material which surrounds the ends .of the blocks to be compacted Without injury and 'hence wit-hout liability to leakage. A further object of the invention is-to provide a construction Which Will enable the joints to be assembled quickly and'conveniently; and a stillffurther object of the invention is Ytorprovide a joint capable'ot realizing all'of the foregoing objects in a construction which is economical o:y production.

l accomplish the foregoing objects, as Well other 'objects that vwill appear hereinafter, in and through the construction and arrangement of parts shown in thedravvings, Wherein Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevationot a universal joint-embodyingvmy invention; F ig. 2 a central transverse sectional view through the ring showing the pins and trunnions in elevation; Fig. 3 a` View corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Fig. 1'; Figs 4t and 5 sectionall views through the ring',- corresponding respectively to the lines srars is UNIVERSAL i JOINT.

iai

l FREDERICK VJ. PETERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,`ASSIGNR TO SPICER 4MANUFAC'JJUJSWE- INGr CORPORATION, OF SOUTH PLAINFELD, NEW JERSEY,' A

-oonrona'rion or and 5-5 of Fig.V 3,; Figs; 6 andda're views in side and` end elevation, respectively. 'or one of the bearing blocks; Fios'. 8 andf9 are plan'jvievvs otl the locking ring and gasket, respectively, which are employed to retain lthe bea-ring locks andthe packing `thereforin place; Fig.- 10 a plan vievv of one of the packing Washers such as are employed l at' the opposite ends et' the bearing blocks; Figs. 11 and 12 are details in plan and section, respectively, lof lone or the Washers Vsurroundmg each trunnion; and Figs. 13

and 14- are viewsl corresponding respectively.

to Figs. V11 .and 12 of another Washer surrounding each trunnion.4 ,Y l j Describing the various parts by reference characters, 1 and Q'denote hubs by Ameans ot which the joint ris connected tojshatt sections (not shown), the hub 2 being'fs'howvnas adaptedrfor a' spl,ined"connection With its shaftsectiomthe outer end of the hub bore being closed by a plate 3. The hubs yare provided eachvvith a yoke, the arms l ot' each yoke having a cross pinl 5V mounted therein, the outer ends 6 of each-cross pin constituting trunnions. yEach cross pin is shown as provided with a central recess'L of slightly greater depth than'the radius of suchvpin, each recessfbeing about, 2100 in angular extent to accommodate the rocking movements ot the-pins. The trunnions are adapted tok be mounted inbearing blocks carried by and supported Withina connecting member in the form of a ring, the ring y being indicated generally at'A. The ring4 is preferably made `from malleable iron and is provided with an louter cylindrical Wall 7, annular lside Walls 8 andv8a,and an inner cylindrical Wall 7, the inner Wall ,being segmental. f

Formed iny the ringV thus yprovided fare transversely extending sea-ts Bl for the bearing blocks. "llhesei seats extend through. ,theV

side Wall 8ADL and toward the opposite' side Wall 8; and the block-receivingvvall .of'each` such seat is a section or' a cylinder having a circumferential extent in excess of 180", whereby the'se'ats permitthe blocks torock therein VWhile A*preventing radial inward movement of the said blocks.

It Will benoted that the spacer between the louterV Wall 7 and the segmental inner Wall 'g'axisdivided intoa plurality chain; A

bers C, said chambers being separated from each other by means ot the side walls ot' the kseatsfjBfandby the bearingblocks inserted` within vsuch seats. Each chamber C is Vadapted to communicate with the interior the-seats Bon each :side thereof through la-rge;openings Y9 :formed in the walls of said seats, thereby to lubricate the outer surofthe seats, saidfports forming passages, }beyondthe trunnions, connecting the adjac ent Vchambers C.n The ports 10 merge at their inner.l ends with theopenings 9, For

theLpurpose of supplying the chambers with lubricant, onesuch'chamber is provided with a illingfopening C.clos ed bya plug.

CQOlJGlatingwith the `'seats B are the bearingblo'cks, each ot which is indicated gen- .er-ally atD, the blocks being so shaped'as to itwithin the said seats and each having an external wall Y1110i the same general contour as the wall of its seat, except as such contouris modified by the kextension `ofthe cylindrical radial bore '12 therethrough. lhe inner and the outer -endof each block `D "is reduced,'as shown at D, providingat eachend a segmental annular seat 13 for the Yreception of a washer 14, each such extension being-concentric ywith the body oit its block.

Each bearing block is provided with a port 1 5, beyond the trunnion therein, adapt- 'ed to register with a port 10 and formthere with *a continuous passageextending across the end of eachtrunnion and `between the same and the cooperating part of the seat D, the ports 10 and 15 connect-ing adjacent chambers C. The ports 10 and 15 communicate with acentral axial chamber 16 eX- tending inwardly from the outer end of eac'h trunnion, from which chamber a port 17QeXtends to the seat provided for each ,trunnion within its bearing block, the ports 17 extending at right angles to the plane `et rotation offthe ring, as pointed out in my earlier application referred ,t'o' hereinbeiore.

'Surrounding'each trunnion 6 is a washer 18. This Washer,as will appear .more particularly 'from Figs. 11 and Y12 Vnormally 'has its outer edge 18' in a different plane :from its inner edge 18h, the Washer being trustecon'ical :in fshapeand the inner edge being provided .with a tongue "18C which'is adapted fto. enter a groove 19 formed in the outer ycylindrical Wall ,of .the corresponding trun- @nien and Withwhic'h Vgroove the -port A17 communicates. The .grooves "19 extend to the 1ends ot their respective trunnions.

`='When.infplace,the-.washers 18 are tlattened Ollts .'.ShOWHiII'FigSQl and@ With their @alla @seal- @asesina the rer-tives et the `bearing blocks which surround the trunnions and their outer edges bearing against the shoulders 4 on ,the cooperating yoke arms. To prevent the outer edges of the washerswfrom cutting into the shoulders, I insert anat-washer 20 (see Figs.; ,13 and 1.4) between each washer v18 and the adj acent shoulder 4. This prevents the cutting ac tion referred to and insures a leak-proot joint between each bearing block and the shoulder adjacent thereto.

It will benoted that the outer ,walh of the ring projects beyond the wall 8, forming a flange 7" which is provided with an internal thread 7C. This flange receives a gasket and a locking ringby means vof which' jacent ends D of 'the bearingblocks and their packing rings or washers 14, there is interposed a large metal washer or gasket,

indicated generally at 22. This gasket is provided with .a 'pair of diametrically opf posed notches 22a and with pairs of tongues y,

22b the pairs preferably'being arranged diametrically opposite each other.

lith the parts constructed and arranged as described, the clamping ring A2,1 will be slipped over the hubg2, the slots 21JD enabling it to be tilted and slipped successively over the trunnions 6 ofthe cross pin 5 ot the hub 2 and in like manner over the trunnions of the pin carried by the hub 1. The gasket or washer 22 can also be slipped over the salne parts in like manner. The bearing yblocks can then be applied to the trunnions and-the ringA slipped over'the hub 2, pressing .the blocks intotheir seats B, withthepacking into engagement with'the inner fiat @facesof an opposed 1pair of such blocks, las indica-ted at 22c on Fig. 8, thus-holding'the said gasket against rotation. The vclamping ri-ng21may then be threaded into its seat Wi-thin fthe iiange V7*. ,By using-the gasket 22,1tl1e packing material 14 (which is preferablyv compressible) will not be injured -by setting up the clamping ring,-thus insuringvv a-leakproo'f joint between such packingV material and the gasket, the compression lof `thenpacking ma terial at the opposite'ends of* the bearing 'blocks valso Vpreventingleakage about such ends.

By reason of 'the construe-tionillustrated and.` described herein, am; enabled f-to- -proad@ a joint is 'sierlineeatraies la? c and economical of production; 1which is read-Y ily assembled and. disassembled; which will reduce to a minimum the number of machining operations; and'ivhich will be particularly eflicient in preventing the leakageof lubricant from the lubricating connecting ring.

Having thus d I claim is l. In a ui'iiversal joint, the combination, with a driving and a driven member and trunnions carried thereby, of a 'hollow lubricant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring havingvseats extend ing transversely thereof fromand through one sidetoivard and terminating short of the opposite side, bearing blocks for said trunnions vin said seats, packing material im terposed between the inner end of each bearing block and the bottom of the seat therefor, a clamping ring adjust-ably mounted on the opposite end of the ring from the bottoms of said seats', and packing material interposed between the outer end of each bearing block andy said ring. f K

2. In a universal joint', `the combination, with a driving and a driven member and trunnions carried thereby, of a hollow lubri cant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring having side Walls and seats extending transversely thereof from and through one side Wall toward and escribed my invention, what terminating short of the outer surface of the,

opposite side Wall, bearing blocks for said trunnions in said seats,vpacking material interposed between the inner end of each bearing blockand the bottom of the seattherefor, a clamping ring mounted on the opposite end of the ring from the bottoms` of said seats, and packing material interposed between the outer end of each bearing block and said ring, the said blocksand seats being so shaped as to permit the blocks to rock in the seats. Y Y

3. In a universal joint, the combination, with a driving and a driven member and trunnions carried thereby, of a hoilovv lubricant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said-ring having seats entending transversely thereof from and through one side toward andr terminating short of the opposite side, bearing blocks for said trunnions in said seat-s, packing materia-l interposed between the inner end of cach bear-y ing block andthe bottom of the seat therefor. packing material at the outer end 'of each bearing block, a gasket adapted to engage the packing material at thev outer ends of the bearing blOcks,'and; aclamping ring mounted upon the first mentioned ring and adapted to force the gasket toward the outer ends of the bearing blocks and the packing material'therefor. i i y 4. In a universal joint, the combination, Witha driving anda driven' member and trunnions carried thereby, of a hollow lubricant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring having seats, extending transversely thereof from andA through one side toward and terminatingshort of the outer surface of the opposite side, bearing blocks tor said trunnions in said seats,packing material extendingabout the peripheral portion of the inner end of each bearing block, packing material extending aboutythe peripheral portion of the outer end of each trunnions carried thereby, of a hollow luf' bricant-containing connecting-ring for said trunnion s, the said ring-havingfseats extend ing transversely thereof from and through one side toward and terminating shortof the opposite side, bearing blocks for said trunnions adapted to be inserted in said soats,'eachblock having a reduced extension each end thereof, packing material in the seat formed by each suchextension, a gasket adapted to engage the packing material at the outer ends of the bearing blocks, andV a clamping ring threaded to `the' first men-.i tioned iing and adapted to engage the said; gasket. -6. in a universal joint, the' combination, with a driving and a driven member vandl trunnions carried thereby,` of a hollonT lubricant-containing'connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring having seatsy extending transversely 'thereof from and through one sidetovvard and terminating Vshortof the opposite side and intersecting the linner Wall thereof, bearing blocks for said trunni'ons adapted to be inserted'in v'said seats, each block having a reduced segmental -extension at each end thereof, packing material in the segmental seat formed by eachv such extension, a gasket adapted to engage the packing material at the outerf ends of the bearing blocks, and a clamping ring threaded into an ion over-hanging flange on the first mentioned ring and adapted to engageV the said gasket, the said blocks being provided each with la radial bore for a trunnion that is adapted to register with an opening forme-d byV thfe intersection of its'seat with the inner -wall of th'e ring, the said blocks and seats being-so trunnions, the said ring having vseats extende transversely thereof from: ,and .through shaped as'to permit the blocks to rock inthe t opposite side, bearingrblocksfforfsaid trunnlons 1n said seats, each block having Arev duced ends providingI 1periph-eral seats, packing material in saidjseats, a gasket adapted toengage the packing material at the outer endwofsaidblocks, and arclamping ringl adjustably mountedf on the said connecting` ring and adapted to-forcerthe gasket toward the saidA outer ends and the packing material therefor.

8. I-n anniversal joint, the combination, with a driving and a driven member and ytrunnions carried thereby, of a 'hollow Vlun bricant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring having seat-s extending transversely thereof from and through one side towardl and terminating short of the opposite side, :bearing blocks for saidtrunnions in saidseats each block having reduced ends providing peripheralV seats, packing materialin said seats, said connecting ring having a flange projecting beyond the outer Wall thereof, a lgasket `fitted -Ywithinl said flange-'and adapted -to engage the packing material a-t'tzheouter ends of the blocks, and a clamp-ing ringthreaded' into said flange and :adapted to force the saidgasket toward suchouterfends vand the packingmaterial therefor, l j

V9. In a universal joint, the combination, With a driving and a driven member and trunnions; carried thereby, of a hollow Vlubricant-'containing connecting ring for said trunnions,`the said ringhaving seats extending transversely thereof from and through one side toward andterminating short of the opposite side, bearing blocks vfor 'said trunnions in said seats, ypacking material `for'ther opposite ends of said .blocks,' a gasket adapted to engage the packing materialat the outer ends. of said blocks, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on .the said connecting. ring and adapted to force thev gaskettoward the said Y. outerends and the packing material therefor, thesaid blocks andv seats being so shaped vas to permit the blocks` to rock in the seats.

10.111 a universaljoinathe combination, withxa driving and a driven member-and trunn-ions .carried ...ther.eby, of a hollow lubricanecontaining connecting. ring for said .l .trunnions,. Athe said. .ring` .having seats ezfitendingk transversely. thereof,` from and through -,one side toward. .and :terminating short f of the. opposite.. side, vbearing blocks forv said.,trunnions.-in saidA seats,.packing material for the opposite ends of said blocks, saidiconnecting; ring having. a iange projectingtheyond the` outer. `wall thereof, a gasket. fitted Within said flange and adapted to engage -Ythe .racking material at the.` outer-endssof -theb ocks, and a clampingringj: threaded :into said flange., and

adapted to force the said gasket toward such outer ends and the packingmaterial therefor'.

ll. ln a universal. joint, the combination, with a driving and a driven member and trunnions carried thereby, of a hollow lubricant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring having seats extending transversely thereof from and through one side toward and terminating short of the opposite side, bearing blocks for said trunnions in said seats, packing material for the opposite ends of said blocks, packing material in said seats, a gasket having a pair of opposed radial slots adapted to accommodate trunnions and to enable the gasket to be slipped over suchl trunnions and having, between said slots, radially inwardly extending tongues adaptl` ed to engage` bearing blocks, and a clamping ring also having a pair of opposed slots adapting it to be slipped over the trunnions, the said connecting ringhaving a flange adapted to receive vthe gasket and the said clamping ring being threaded into said iange.y Y .Y

l2. In a universal joint, the combination, with a driving and a driven trunnions carried thereby, of a hollow lubricant-containing connecting ring for, said trunnions, the said ring having seats extending transversely thereof` from and through one side toward and terminating short of the opposite side, bearing blocks for said trunnions in said seats, a gasket having inwardly extending ytongues adapted to engage one or more Vbearing blocks, the said connecting i ring having a vflange adapted to receive the gasket, and a clamping ring threaded into said flange.

13. In a universal joint, the combination, with a driving and a driven member and trunnions rcarriedr thereby, of a hollow lubricant-containing connecting ring for said trunnions, the said ring having seats extending transversely thereof from and through one side toward and terminating short of the opposite side, bearing blocks memberV and for saidtrunnions in said seats, cachblock fcally opposed pairs'of tongues adapted for engagement *with bearingrblocks, Aand adjust-able connecting means between the clamping ring .and the connecting ring.

lll. In a universal .joint,'the combination of a member having a trunnion anda shoulder fromA which said trunnionY projects, abeari-ng member for saidjtrunnion, a

Vwasher surrounding the said trunnion, the

said washer being of spring metal and normally having one edge thereof in a dii'- i'erent plane from the other edge whereby when assembled between the said shoulder and the said bearing member, one edge of such washer will be forced into engagement with one of such Darts, and a second washer interposed between the other edge of the iirst washer and the other of such parts.

l5. In a universal joint, the combination of a member having a trunnion and a shoulder from which said trunnion projects, a bearing member for said trunnion, a washer surrounding the said trunnion, the. said washer being oi spring metal and normally having one edge thereof 1n a different plane from the other edge whereby, when assembledl between the said shoulder and thek said bearing member, one edge of such washer will be forced into engagement with the bearing member, and a flat washer interposed between the opposite edge of the said washer and the said shoulder.

.In testimony whereof, I hereunto ai'lx my signature.

FREDERICK w. PETERs. 

